Grate



J. E. FULWEILER GRATE Filed Jan.2, 1925- I ATTORNEYS INVENTOR JOHN EDWIN FULWEILER Patented July 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFI E JOHN E. FULWEILER, F MOYLAN, PENNSYLVANIA.

enema. I

Application filed January 2, 1925. SerialdNo. 257.

My invention relates to furnaces, having particular relation to grate structures.

One object of my invention is to provide a grate structure which is characterized by a the smooth support provided for furnacev age of air opening even with the smaller sizes of fuel.

-Another object of my invention is to prom vide a grate structure, wherein the angle formed by afline from the lower edge of an upper grate bar to the upper edge of the next adjacent lower bar approximates the angle of repose of the fuel, whereby the maximum amount of air opening may be obtained.

A further object of my invention is to provide a grate structure, wherein the in coming air is caused to pass through heated passages of comparatively narrow dimen sions so that the air may be uniformly preheated and the grate bars correspondingly cooled.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a dumping grate, wherein the overlappinggrate bars are so disposed as to form longitudinal grooves which are self-cleanin With these and other objects and applications in mind, my invention further consists in the details of construction and operation and arrangement, hereinafter; described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view, partially in section, of a furnace embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a dumping grate structure embodying my invention; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail transverse sectional View of the longitudinally extending grate bars of the preceding figures.

In the illustrated form of embodiment o my invention shown in Fig. 1, a furnace 1 comprises a front wall 2 and side walls 3. The front wall 2 is provided with a transversely extending beam 4 for removably supporting one end of a grate structure 5, an opposite end of which is supported by a similar beam (not shown). The grate structure 5 comprises a plurality of lower bars 6 which are removably mounted in laterally spaced relation on the supporting beam 4' and constitute a lower floor surface.

As shown in Fig. 1, the several lower grate bars 6 extend from a furnace opening 7 in the front wall 2 longitudinally of the furnace 1 so as to terminate at a dumping grate section 8 shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing. Each of the lower grate bars 6 is of T-shaped construction and comprises a horizontal flange portion 9 and a central depending web 130113101111. The grate structure 5 also cornprises a plurality of upper grate bars 12 which are removably mounted on the lower grate bars 6 .and constitute an upper floor surface which is more directly exposed to the furnace heat, all as will appear more fully hereinafter. Each of the upper grate bars 12 is also ofv T-shape formation and 7 comprises a horizontal flange portion 13. and a central depending web portion 1 1.

As illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, the several upper grate bars 12 are so disposed as to cover the space intermediate successive lower grate bars 6, the alternate upper and lower grate bars 12 and 6 thus defining a plurality of longitudinally extending depressions 15 adapted to facilitate the cleaning of the grate structure 5 from the furnace opening 7. The flange portions 9 and 13 of the lower and upper grate bars and 12, respectively, also form smooth guideways for cleaning tools.

My invention further contemplates a grate structure having a maximum amount ofair opening and also one wherein incoming air may be preheated and the grate bars correspondingly cooled- To this end, the hori zontal flange portion 13 of the bars 12 is so positioned to overlap adjacent. edge portions 16 of successive lower grate bars 6 and said flange portions 13 are mounted in spaced relation thereto by means of a plurality of longitudinally disposed vertical spacing lugs 17 extending from the underside of the flange portions 13. The depending web portion 1 1- is centrally disposed between successive edge portions 16 by horizontal spacing lugs 18 extending from opposite sides thereof.

The spaced mounting of the upper grate bars 12 thus provides a plurality of air inlet passages 19 of comparatively narrow dimensions, causing the incoming air to be considerably preheated and at the same time the grate bars 9 and 12 correspondingly cooled. Moreover, the lugs 17 provide a plurality of supporting points for the relatively hot upper grate bars 12 intermediate the ends hereof, so that the tendency for these bars to sag under operating conditions is prevented; and the vertical lugs 18 prevent the warping of said upper bars 12.

In order that the amount of air opening into the grate construction may be amaximum, the spacing lugs 17 are of such dimensions that the angle a, which is formed between the horizontal flange portion 9 of the lower grate barv and a line from the upper edge of the latter to the lower edge of the next adjacent upper horizontal flange portion 13 approximates the angle of repose of the fuel.

In F 2 is shown a structure 21. ol the design shown in Figs. 1 and 2 but further including apair oi" central sections 22 and 23 'lulcrumed in longitudinally extending side members 24. 'lhe latter may be secured toend supporting plates 25 and 26. r he end plate 25 may be provided with a door :37 permitting access into the :t'nrnace ash pit. The plate 26 may also serve as a n'iounting for operatinglevers whit-h ai o designed to actuate the pivoted grate sections 22 and 23. As may be readily seen from Fig. 2, the sections 22 and 23 are selfcleaning, the longitudinal depressions 1i facilitating the ren'ioval of ashes therefrom since they aiiord no lodgnient for ashes when the grate structure 21 is in the dump ing position.

\Vhile l have shown only one form of embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and moditications may be. made therein without departing from the spirit o'l my invention as for instance the use of a grate coi'istruction wherein the bars are circular rather than longitudinal. I desire. therefore, that. only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are d manded by the prior art.

1 claim:

l. A grate structure COlIlPllSiDg a plurality of longitudinal! y extending grate bars in lateral spaced relation, and a plurality of upper grate bars mounted on said lower grate bars, each of said upper grate bars comprising a horizontal body portion provided with spacing lugs whereby a phtirality of supporting points may be afforded said upper bars intermediate the ends thereof, said upper bars also comprising vertical webs extending between successive lower grate bars and also provided *ith spacing lugs, whereby the warping of said upper bars may be substantially prevented. An upper grate bar of T-shaped. structure provided with horizontal and vertical supporting lugs, and a lower supporting bar for so engaging said lugs as to prevent the warping of said upper bar.

2. ln combination. a lower longitudinally ot-i'tending rate bar, and an upper grate bar comprising a horizontal portion and a web portion, said portions being respectively provided with vertical and horizontal spacing lugs engageable with said lower grate bar, whcrclrv the sagging oi? said upper bar may be eliminated.

l. A grate structure comprising aplurality of spaced longitudinally extending bars constituting a lower floor surface, and

a plurality of upper grate bars, each comprising a horizontal portion and a web portion, said upper grate bars constituting an upper floor surface positioned in such spaced relation to said lower grate bars as to provide a plurality 0t air passages, the dimensions oi which are such that the fuel. is permitted to assume its normal angle of repose on the lower grate bars without eXtending into said passages sufficiently to pass through the grate structure, and vertical and horizontal spacing lugs formed on the upper grate bars and engagealiile with said lower grate bars.

JOHN E. lillliwllllllillll. 

